Toroidal pyrolysis chamber arrangement and related systems and methods

Abstract

A pyrolysis chamber arrangement includes a pyrolysis chamber, a solid feed system and inner and outer heating elements. The pyrolysis chamber defines a toroidal passage extending along a chamber axis between inlet and outlet ends. The solid feed system includes an auger and ram assembly operable to supply particulate feedstock to the toroidal passage at the inlet end. The inner and outer heating elements extend outside inner and outer walls of the toroidal passage, respectively, and supply thermal input therethrough. An inner passage can be defined in the pyrolysis chamber, allowing gas or other pyrolysis to be accomplished simultaneously with the pyrolysis in the toroidal chamber.

1 . A pyrolysis chamber arrangement comprising:
 a pyrolysis chamber defining a toroidal passage extending between chamber inlet and outlet ends along a chamber axis; and   a plurality of heating elements arranged adjacent to the toroidal passage and operable to provide thermal input thereinto.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heating elements are arranged around inner and outer chamber walls of the pyrolysis chamber and located radially inward and outward of the toroidal passage, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein more of the plurality of heating elements are located radially outward of the toroidal passage than radially inward. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of heating elements are arranged in heating element passages formed within the inner and outer chamber walls. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the pyrolysis chamber is formed as a unitary solid. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the pyrolysis chamber is formed of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer chamber walls are concentric cylinders. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein an inner passage is defined within the inner wall extending between the chamber inlet and outlet ends along the chamber axis. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the inner passage is concentric with the toroidal passage. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , further comprising a gas feed system operable to supply a controllable flow of gas to the inner passage. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , further comprising an inner auger arranged within the inner passage and operable to remove deposits therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a toroidal auger arranged in the toroidal passage and operable to advance pyrolyzing feedstock therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a solid feed system including:
 an auger located within an auger housing having distal end connected to the chamber inlet end and having a housing inlet for receiving particulate feedstock; and   an auger motor operable to rotate the auger to advance the particulate feedstock from the housing inlet to the chamber inlet end and into the toroidal passage.   
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the solid feed system further includes a ram drive operable to translate the auger back and forth along the chamber axis. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein a radial dimension of teeth of the auger is less than or equal to a radial dimension of the toroidal passage. 
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the solid feed system further includes a ram drive operable to translate the auger back and forth along the chamber axis. 
     
     
         17 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heating elements are electrical resistance heating elements. 
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heating elements has an active region. 
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein each of the active regions has an equal length. 
     
     
         20 . The arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the active regions of different portions of the plurality of heating elements have different lengths. 
     
     
         21 . The arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein the active regions of each of the different portions of heating elements each terminate an equal distance from the chamber outlet end. 
     
     
         22 . The arrangement of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of heating elements has a pair of inactive regions arranged on opposite ends of the active region. 
     
     
         23 . A method of operating a pyrolysis chamber arrangement, the method comprising:
 feeding particulate biomass feedstock into an inlet end of a pyrolysis chamber and through a toroidal passage thereof; and   heating the particulate biomass feedstock with thermal input from inner and outer chamber walls of the toroidal passage as the feedstock passes therethrough.